Some favorite Trees - How Trees add Value to our Lives

Trees bring us life. They help us to breathe and live, and enjoy their food and their wood and give us shade. Trees bring great beauty to our world. From Sequoias to the olive trees in Greece, I feel my life has been enriched just for having seen them.

There was a neat article my father in law shared with me once, and it was all about how trees actually help increase the value of a neighborhood monetarily. It was a fascinating article. Think about this for instance. Do you know of any older neighborhoods with old shops or houses that are also lined with some kind of tree? You see them in movies if nothing else. Those trees, actually add value to those neighborhoods! I have seen neighborhoods like this from downtown Santa Ana California, to downtown Athens Greece. Sometimes these trees have fruit even, as seen in Athens. There were varying citrus fruits growing on the trees in what seemed like part "concrete jungle."

Trees are so diverse and we see it in the tree line of course. The ones in Colorado, so different from those in Southern California. The first picture here, shows some trees from Southern California, near Balboa Beach in particular. I love how they are all gnarly looking, and silhouetted against the sky. They seem to be very happy near the ocean.

The second tree pictured above, is one in Missouri, USA during the fall season. They are very tall, but I am not exactly sure on the name. These trees tower so tall and are beautiful year round, yes even in the winter time. In winter you see their beautiful silhouettes and when it snows they are breathtaking. I have great memories of my boys raking leaves into huge piles to jump into right under those trees. Trees give us so much enjoyment. I love it that so much wildlife also enjoys and depends on the trees.

Near this same area, we have a little path in what we call the "woods" really it is just a common ground, but unless its winter, it looks like they may as well go back pretty deep. Such a joy. We have seen many animals back here as well, from a mink, to turkeys, to a beaver with babies, snakes, and hawks among other things. The trees themselves help to make up such an area that so much wildlife can live and thrive.

I love to see flowers in trees, like this one tree here. This year I have also enjoyed seeing some magnolias with their beautiful white blooms, and also a tulip tree that was gorgeous. Every spring, its a joy to see the many flowering trees, wherever I have lived. There is nothing quite like a flowering cherry tree, for instance. Simply beautiful.